Intro: What is the most important question you should ask in your life? Why am I here?
Many struggle with the reason they are alive. Some wonder if they are some cosmic coincidence. Often people fall prey to the false teaching that we are nothing more than a freak combination of chemicals that accidentally came together and made life.
This leads to the old saying “Eat, drink, and be merry for Tomorrow we die.” It is the cancerous idea that we cease to exist after death. Many have allowed themselves based on this idea to become the center of their own miniature universe. It is the Burger King Mentality. My Way. (Jesus is the way so we have his way here.)
There are many false ideas and false teachings that distract us from our real purpose in life. In the letter to the Colossians Paul is dealing with the problem of false teaching.
False teaching will distract us from our course
False teaching will disturb our faith
False teaching will diminish our light for the Lord.
In Paul’s work to overcome the false teaching he brilliantly shows us our individual purpose as well as the purpose for the Church’s existence.
So ask yourself the all-important question: Why does the church exist?
Let’s translate that into our church, Calvary Baptist Church, some of you may ask why on earth do we meet, why study the Bible, why, why, why?
Let’s answer both questions with one Bible verse
Colossians 1.16c “all things have been created through Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) and for Him.
We are not some cosmic coincidence, we are not an accident, we were created by Jesus and for Jesus.
From the individual to the individual churches. The bible here teaches Jesus created everyone who has ever lived or ever will. Not only did Jesus create everyone. He created everyone for Himself. Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 6.19c – 20 “you are not your own, For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify (exalt, lift up) God in your body.”
To glorify in this passage means to praise, magnify, celebrate, and honor God. It also conveys the idea of getting others to acknowledge God’s greatness.
The church exists to exalt Jesus. Exalt means to raise in rank, status, or character. To honor glorify and praise.
As the church we are called Christians. A way to understand the definition of Christian is to say we are little Christ’s. Let’s investigate the bare necessities of lifting Jesus up in rank and status as Calvary Baptist Church.
I. We are to Follow His Lead -- “He is the head” Colossians 1.18 -- Loyalty
A) Divided we Fall
1) If we are not together in Mission
2) If we are not together in Ministry
3) If we are not together in Motivation
B) United We Follow
1) Follow Him to repentance
Dr Charles Stanley “Repentance and sincere devotion to Christ separate a person from the natural ways of the world.”
“True repentance is a humble, quiet, life-changing experience between you and God.”
2) Follow Him in His holiness
a) The commitment
Colossians 1.22 “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach”
1) God’s marvelous grace pardons our past by Christ’s blood.
2) God’s masterful plan is to present us without stain, spot, or wrinkle forgiving every part of our godless past.
b) The condition
Colossians 1.23 “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard”
1) This is not if you loose your salvation
2) This is the reality check for all Christians
3) The reality of a relationship with God is found in the permanent nature of our faith.
a. One that has truly been twice born will go on faithfully to the end.
b. BBC “Continuance is a proof of reality”
c. The only way to continue is to fix you heart on Christ
Transition: It is through a heart that has repented (turned from its own plans) determined to be holy for Jesus’ namesake that will fix his or her heart on God’s plan.
II. We are to Fix our hearts on His plan -- Stability
A) Reaching the Lost – Colossians 1.20
Casting Crowns Chorus to If We Are The Body
“But if we are the Body Why aren’t His arms reaching”
B) Teaching the Saved – Colossians 1.23
Casting Crowns – “Why arent His words teaching”
1) We come to fellowship and Worship in God’s holy word so that we may be firmly established and steadfast. In other words solid and strong
a) A firm footing of faith so that when the landslides of life come we can stand on the promises of God!!!
b) A firm fellowship of the saints when the attacks of the devil and demons come we are united in the mind of Christ!
b) A firm future saved and secure in Jesus Christ!!!
2) We should come to fellowship and Worship in God’s holy word so that we are equipped.
To reach the lost and teach the saved.
C) Encouraging them both
Hebrews 10.24,25 “Let us consider how to encourage one another . . .”
Transition: If we truly fix our heart on His plan we will see the need to forfeit our own priorities.
III. We are to Forfeit all other priorities so that Jesus will have first place (preeminence) – Priority
First place is not just a weight loss program.
For the true disciple of Jesus it is a way of life program!!! (Colossians 1.18) read
It is not the physical weight that hinders; it is the spiritual weight that holds us back from putting Jesus first place in our life.
Definition of Exalt:
To raise in rank, character, or status; elevate
How do we forfeit all other priorities and exalt the Lord Jesus?
A) Establish Kingdom Priorities
Matthew 6.33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
1) Jesus teaches us in the Sermon the most important decision we should ever make as a Christian. Getting our priorities in proper order.
a) His kingdom.
Kingdom speaks of the rule and reign of Christ in all of our life.
b) His Kingdom speaks of His proper place in our life.
1) If Jesus is not commander in chief of you life than He needs a promotion.
(Why not make Him commander He has already fought the battle and won!!)
2) If Jesus is ranked by someone looking at your life where would they place him?
1st, 2nd, 3rd somewhere in between, or dead last?
Is Jesus conspicuous in your life? In other words is it easy for others to see that He is your highest priority?
What your priorities are in time they will be in eternity. If Jesus is not your highest priority in the here and now where will you be in the here after?
Make the decision to establish Jesus as the first and most important priority in your life.
c) His Kingdom
1) His priorities become my priorities
Marriage. When you get married your priorities change it is no longer just you to think about.
What my wife said to me “What’s mine is mine, what’s yours is mine.”
2 Corinthians 11.2 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”
2) We are the bride of Christ
If you are saved their should be a transformation in your priorities.
1 Corinthians 5.17 tells us
Romans 12.1,2 salvation should bring transformation
B) Exalt the King (the Lord Jesus Christ)
1) Jesus is exalted, lifted up in our life by exhibiting Him. (showing Him off)
a) Jesus deserves preeminence (first place) in you life
Jesus is preeminent –
i) He is superior to everything created
He is superior as the creator 1.16
He is the superior controller and director of the creation.
There is no one more capable of counseling you on life decisions than Jesus Christ.
ii) He is superior as the head of the Church 1.18
He is the superior controller and director of the church.
There is no one more capable of directing the church than Jesus.
iii) He is superior as the redeemer of the world 1.20
b) Because Jesus is superior for us as created and church he deserves first place in all our lives.
1st place in work, worship, witness
1st place in marriage, money, material things
1st place in family, friends, foes
2) Jesus is exalted/lifted up when others embrace Him for salvation
Ephesians 3.21 “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”
Conclusion: There is no one and nothing greater for your life than Jesus. So how does He rank. Christian what is your highest priority?
What priority does the Word of God have in your life?
What priority does the Work of God have in your life?
What priority does the Worship of God have in your life?
What priority does God have in your family, with your friends?
Have the Lord Jesus’ priorities become yours as the bride of Christ?
Why is it so important to lift up Jesus in every aspect of your everyday life?
John 12.32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
If Jesus is the highest priority in our lives, if He is exalted/lifted up he will draw people to Himself!!
